Committee approves local-control resolution and hears administrator update on towers, ATV routes and grants

The Sawyer County Administrative Committee voted to ask the Wisconsin Counties Association to advocate for expanded local control on matters including wind and solar, a resolution the committee approved without recorded opposition.

A presenter explained the resolution asks WCA to advocate to the Legislature for more local decision-making authority on energy siting and related matters. "The idea is that we know our local communities better than statewide (officials) do," the presenter said, urging copies be sent to towns and representatives.

In the administrator's report, the Sawyer County administrator highlighted several items headed to the full board: approval earlier in the week at Public Works of new ATV and UTV routes across some tribal properties to create an east-west corridor, and a recommendation from finance and public safety committees to advance a Meadowbrook radio-tower resolution to the full board because a planned third-party provider is no longer available. The administrator said the county will discuss lease space with the Town of Meadowbrook next week.

He also reported the county will market carbon credits tied to local forest products and had approved pre-applications for TAD grants totaling $250,000 combined (a $100,000 request for diversion and $150,000 for treatment court). The administrator said audits and the 2027 budget timeline are approaching and thanked staff and partners for work on a runway project that won a 2025 project-of-the-year award.